More than 34 million Americans have diabetes, and approximately 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the United States

Type 2 diabetes, while its exact cause is unknown, develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin, or the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Because of this, treatment often involves taking “insulin sensitizers” or medication that helps the body increase its sensitivity and therefore ability to process insulin, keeping the blood sugar from getting too low. Let’s discuss how this medication often causes side effects, including weight gain and anemia.

The good news is, for those millions of Americans living with type 2 diabetes, research shows electroacupuncture combined with an insulin sensitizer may be a viable new treatment option.

Exploring Alternative Therapies: Electroacupuncture and Insulin Sensitizers

In 2015, the journal Acupuncture in Medicine published a study examining the effects of combining electroacupuncture with metformin, an insulin sensitizer, on insulin-resistant rats. One group of rats received only metformin, while the other received both metformin and electroacupuncture treatments. The researchers then compared various factors.

The rats that received both treatments exhibited higher insulin levels than those receiving metformin alone. Interestingly, while metformin improves insulin sensitivity and suppresses gluconeogenesis, it does not directly stimulate insulin production. Therefore, the researchers attributed the increased insulin levels in the metformin and electroacupuncture group to the acupuncture treatments themselves.

Furthermore, the researchers compared two additional indicators of insulin production and absorption between the two groups. In each case, the rats receiving electroacupuncture alongside metformin showed superior performance.

Key Findings: Improved Insulin Levels and Function

Of course, human clinical trials are needed, but the researchers were excited enough about their findings that they suggested this combination could be developed as a new treatment option for patients with type 2 diabetes. This study is just one in a long list that has sought to bring the gifts of acupuncture to patients with diabetes.

Acupuncture and Diabetes: A Comprehensive Approach

As always in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we want to improve your health from the root cause outward to the symptoms, addressing how a patient came to be diabetic as well as the health problems that arise with a diagnosis. TCM teaches it is important to look at all aspects of your well-being, including diet, exercise and mental health altogether, not as unrelated elements.

If you have any questions about acupuncture for diabetes, or you’d like to start a journey to better health before a life-changing diagnosis, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.